Malaysia - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 430

DAY TRIPS FROM KL
he biggest attractions around KL are north
of the city, where limestone peaks rise up
out of the forest and the roads narrow as
you pass through small kampungs
(villages). Amid dramatic scenery just
13km from the city, the vast Hindu shrine
at the Batu Caves is one of Malaysia's main
tourist attractions. Southwest of KL, Kuala
Selangor Nature Park and the fireflies at
Village Kuantan appeal to nature lovers.

before the entrance to the main temple, a
short path leads to the Dark Cave (Tues-Fri
10am-5pm; Sat & Sun 10.30am-5.30pm;
RM35); guided excursions are organized at
the entrance (45min) and you may see bats
and trapdoor spiders.
To get to the caves, take a direct train on
the KMT Komuter Line from KL Sentral to
the Batu Caves stop (every 15min; 30min). 6

Kuala Selangor Nature Park and
the fireflies
North of Klang is the small Taman Alam
Kuala Selangor Nature Park (daily
9am-6pm; RM4; T 03 289 2294, W mns
.org.my), set in partial primary rainforest;
the trails are short (taking between 15min
and 2hr to walk) but lead to hides that
make perfect birdwatching spots. he
park is accessible by bus #141 from
behind the Central Market (every 30min
6.30am-7.30pm; 2hr; RM7.30; the last
bus back is at 7.45pm).
To view the fireflies for which the area is
so famous, join one of the tours organized
by many of the hostels or take a taxi (RM20
return from Kuala Selangor - there's no bus)
to Kuantan 10km away. It costs RM10 to
take a ride in a battery-powered sampan
(small boat), RM15 in a fibreglass boat,
along the river, Sungei Kuantan, at around
8pm, to see the thousands of fireflies
glowing on the riverbank.

The Batu Caves
he Batu Caves , dark openings in the vast
limestone hills, are said to be over 400
million years old, and were once used as
shelters by the Orang Asli. Since 1891,
the caves have sheltered Hindu shrines,
and it is now one of the biggest shrines
outside India. he caves are always packed
with visitors, never more so than during
the three-day haipusam festival held in
late January, when more than a million
faithful gather here, the skin of many
pierced with metal hooks with ropes
attached to them; the most devout follow
the silver chariot that is taken from the Sri
MahaMarianman temple in the centre of
KL (see p.425). If you're lucky enough to
be here during haipusam, arrive at dawn
to have any chance of a place to stand.
Coming out of the train station, you
pass a giant statue of the monkey god
Hanuman, vendors selling all manner of
little trinkets, and the entrance to Cave Villa
(daily 9am-6.30pm; RM15); the complex
here incorporates an Art Gallery Cave,
home to dozens of multicoloured deity
statues, a bird and a reptile sanctuary. Just
beyond is the bottom of the steep 272-step
staircase leading up to the main cave,
dwarfed by the enormous golden statue of
Lord Subramaniam, otherwise known as
Muruga, the god of war.
At the top of the main staircase is
Subramaniam Swamy Temple (daily
7am-9pm; free), set deep in a huge cave,
its walls lined with idols representing the
six lives of Lord Subramaniam and its
interior crowded with the faithful, their
shaved heads covered with yellow chalk.
he whole place is swarming with
macaques who are not afraid of humans
- thanks to those who feed them. Just

The west coast
he west coast of the Malaysian
Peninsula, from Kuala Lumpur north to
the hai border, is the most industrialized
and densely populated part of the
country. his is also the area in which the
British held most sway, attracted by the
political prestige of controlling such a
strategic trading region.
he hill stations of the Cameron
Highlands are a perfect place to relax and
escape the heat and humidity, while
Georgetown on the island of Penang
gives another taste of colonial life with its
charming old shophouses and fantastic
food. From here, it's not too far to the
pretty white-sand shores of popular